THE Champions League semi-finals are a place for biggest
names in Europe. Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and AC Milan
four top-notch sides in this years latter stages. But six years
ago Leeds broke that mould by reaching the last four, making them
the talk of Europe. A breathtaking run of results including wins
over Milan, Lazio and, in the quarter-finals, Deportivo La Coruna
took them within a whisker of the 2001 final. Leeds eventually lost
to Valencia and that marked the start of their sharp decline.
Three years later they were relegated from the Premiership and they
are currently fighting to avoid the drop into League
One.
If theyre not careful, memories of the San Siro and Bernabeu will
soon be replaced by the nightmare of trips to Port Vale and
Bournemouth. More importantly, Leeds plight is a warning to the
Premiership trio left in this years competition all of whom have
endured unsettling takeovers in the past few years. It would be
wrong to suggest United, Chelsea or Liverpool are in danger of
combusting. But Leeds financial woes demonstrates how quickly the
good times can evaporate - and quick. A look at the Yorkshire
sides squad for their semi-final first leg against Valencia at
Elland Road which they drew 0-0 before succumbing in Spain
speaks volumes.
It included current England internationals Paul Robinson, Jonathon
Woodgate, Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith the latter two will turn
out for United against Milan tomorrow. Leeds were also able to call
upon the likes of Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell, Lee Bowyer, Olivier
Dacourt, Nigel Martyn and Ian Harte all of them in the prime of
their careers.
But the star-packed squad was dismantled almost as quickly as it
was put together as the club began its slide towards financial
oblivion. Chairman Peter Ridsdale borrowed £60million in the
assumption Leeds possessed the quality to qualify for the money pit
of the Champions League year after year. But when that plan failed
Leeds never featured in the competition after losing the second
leg in Valencia 3-0 and the club sunk like a stone.
Burdened Ridsdales great expectations, they plummeted into the
Championship with debts of over £100million. Defeat for 10-man
Leeds at Southampton on Saturday edged them ever closer to English
football's third tier - something that would have been unthinkable
in the heady days of Ridsdale's big spending. And that thought will
be even harder to stomach when they tune into this week's
semi-finals. Europe's biggest stage is a million miles away right
now.
Leeds glory
men
Here is the Leeds' side that faced Valencia in the Champions League
semi-final first leg at Elland Road - but where are they now?
Nigel Martyn: Retired after stint with
Everton
Danny Mills: Outcast at Manchester City
Ian Harte: In his third season with Spanish side
Levante
Rio Ferdinand: Joined Man United for British
record £30m
Dominic Matteo: Playing with Stoke in the
Championship
Lee Bowyer: Braced for a second relegation with
West Ham
Olivier Dacourt: Serie A title winner with Inter
Milan
David Batty: Retired in 2004 after series of
injuries
Harry Kewell: Struggling with injuries at
Liverpool
Mark Viduka: Set to leave Middlesbrough this
summer
Alan Smith: Back to his best at Manchester
United
Subs: Paul Robinson (now at Tottenham), Gary Kelly
(Leeds), Jonathan Woodgate (Middlesbrough), Stephen McPhail
(Cardiff), Jason Wilcox (retired), Eirik Bakke (SK Brann), Jacob
Burns (Wisla Krakow).
